10 Inspiring and Delicious Runner bean Recipes

All About Runner beans

For those who enjoy their greens, there’s a vegetable frequently flying under the radar but worth a closer look – the runner bean. So named due to its tendency to ‘run’ along whatever it’s put near, this vine-sprouting vegetable is something of a treasure trove when it comes to the health, taste, and culinary companions it pairs well with. Before we dive into more detail, here’s a quick look at our underrated star:

Nutrition Profile of Runner Beans

Runner beans pack a punch when it comes to nutritional value. Among many benefits , they are rich in dietary fiber, providing about 9% of the daily recommended allowance in a 100g serving. Fiber is excellent both for promoting feelings of fullness, and for ensuring a healthy digestive tract, with research indicating it may help reduce the risk of developing conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

Runner beans also pack a punch with their vitamin C content, providing up to one third of your daily recommended intake in the same 100g serving. Vitamin C is instrumental in repairing tissue, helping to accelerate the healing of wounds and keeping teeth and gums healthy. Not stopping there, they also offer a generous helping of vitamins like A and K, along with minerals such as manganese, potassium, iron, and calcium.

Adding Runner Beans to Your Diet

Runner beans are incredibly versatile, and there are plenty of ways to craft them into your meals. Raw runner beans can be added to salads for a refreshing, nutritious crunch, but they’re equally as wonderful cooked. Lightly steaming or boiling these beans preserves their nutrients and allows their slightly sweet taste to shine through. Also, due to their delicate flavor, they can easily be baked into casseroles, sauteed with other vegetables, or cooked into soups and curries. Check out a variety of tasty and healthy runner bean recipes to get you started.

Often seen as the second fiddle to more popular members of the legume family, runner beans hold their own when it comes to nutrition and versatility. Budget-friendly and easily cultivated in a variety of climates, they are a viable and sustainable choice for adding more plant-based food to your diet. So the next time you’re thinking about adding a new green to your plate, why not make it runner beans?